Report: Woodward County sheriff to testify before grand jury

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ The Woodward County sheriff is scheduled to testify next week before the state's multicounty grand jury, according to a published report. <br/><br/>Les Morton, 51, is under investigation

Saturday, January 8th 2005, 3:13 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ The Woodward County sheriff is scheduled to testify next week before the state's multicounty grand jury, according to a published report.

Les Morton, 51, is under investigation for alleged ``misconduct and possible crimes,'' The Oklahoman is reporting.

Authorities were unavailable for comment Friday.

Morton, sheriff since 1996, did not return telephone calls to his office seeking comment.

``We deny any wrongdoing whatsoever,'' said Mack Martin, an Oklahoma City attorney who was hired Friday by Morton. ``We are glad that the grand jury is getting the opportunity to hear any evidence and feel confident that grand jurors won't find any criminal wrongdoing on his part.''

Three other people in Morton's office also have received subpoenas, The Oklahoman reported.

Undersheriff Gary Stanley confirmed he is among those subpoenaed, but declined to discuss the allegations against his boss.

Grady County Assistant District Attorney Bret Burns was appointed to serve as special prosecutor in the case after Woodward County District Attorney Ray Don Jackson stepped aside from the investigation in September.

In a letter to the attorney general, Jackson noted the accusations he had received concerned ``allegations of misconduct and possible crimes committed by Les Morton.''